Trees play an important part in maintaining the health of our environment. They are a vital and integral part of the biodiversity of our urban environment, by providing habitat, food, shelter and protection for many birds, animals and insect species. Trees provide us with fresh air to breath and most people agree that we need trees for our health and sense of well-being.Very often trees are also a living asset, contributing significantly to property values and street landscape amenity.
The Bankstown Development Control Plan 2005 Part E2 Tree Preservation Order (TPO) PDF (136k) protects and preserves existing trees by regulating their management. It clearly prohibits ring barking, cutting down, topping, pruning, removal, injury or wilful destruction of trees, without written consent of Council.

Substantial penalties of up to $100,000 will apply for the illegal pruning or removal of trees.